OpenAI has experienced a significant shift in its leadership, as Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Research VP Barret Zoph have announced their departures shortly after CTO Mira Murati’s exit. CEO Sam Altman confirmed the resignations in a statement on X, explaining that the decisions were made independently but consolidated due to the timing of Murati’s announcement.
Altman indicated that the company was adjusting its leadership structure, promoting Mark Chen to Senior Vice President of Research, where he will oversee the research organization alongside Jakub Pachocki, who will serve as Chief Scientist. Matt Knight has transitioned to the role of Chief Information Security Officer, while Kevin Weil and Srinivas Narayanan will continue to lead the applied team, which focuses on deploying OpenAI’s technology to both enterprise and consumer markets.
Josh Achiam has been appointed as the head of mission alignment to ensure a cohesive company culture and successful progression towards OpenAI’s objectives. Altman remarked that he looks forward to focusing more on the technical and product aspects of the organization moving forward.
In his statement, Altman sought to reassure both employees and the broader community that leadership changes are a natural component of businesses, particularly fast-growing companies. He acknowledged the abrupt nature of these transitions but justified them by citing the timing as part of a necessary evolution.
McGrew expressed his desire to take a break, reflecting on his significant journey at OpenAI since 2017. Zoph, who joined in 2022, described his decision to leave as a personal choice to pursue new opportunities.
Despite the executives characterizing their exits as amicable, they follow reports of a potential transition at OpenAI from a nonprofit model to a for-profit entity, with disagreements about the company’s direction possibly contributing to the recent shakeup.
As OpenAI prepares for an upcoming all-hands meeting, these departures mark a continuation of a trend within the organization, with several high-profile executives leaving in recent months. Only three of the original 13 founders remain at OpenAI. Altman highlighted the demanding nature of leadership within the company, emphasizing both the privilege and challenges faced by those at the helm.
OpenAI’s press office did not respond to requests for comment.